AFL join forces with 'Good Sports'

AFL (NSW/ACT) are pleased to announce that the Australian Drug Foundation’s program ‘Good Sports’ will be incorporated into their Quality Club program for all community AFL Clubs across NSW.

Good Sports is a free community health initiative delivered via community sports clubs. The program has been developed from key recommendations at the 2003 NSW Alcohol Summit.

The Quality Club Program was implemented by AFL (NSW/ACT) to provide an opportunity for all community football clubs to benchmark their operations and administration via a ranking system bronze, silver and gold level. The Good Sports initiative will form part of the silver level of the program.

The focus of the Good Sports program is about creating happier, healthier, more family friendly and viable community sports clubs.

The program works with clubs and sponsors, local council and community stakeholders in the responsible service and consumption of alcohol.

Chris Mintern, Football Services Manager for AFL (NSW/ACT) believes this is a strong inclusion to the Quality Club program.

“We are thrilled to be able to provide our community clubs with access to a program of this calibre. It certainly strengthens our Quality Club program as we are able to link our clubs with experts who can provide them with the skills to combat community issues.”

In excess of  2,700 clubs are presently participating in the program, and with the recent announcement of support from NSW RTA Corporate for the next three years, the program will now be available to every AFL club in NSW.

John Reid, NSW State Manager for Good Sports described the initiative as a nationwide program aimed at breaking the link between alcohol and the traditional operations of community sports clubs.

“We are looking to guide clubs to a healthier and safer future. Good Sports is not about drying clubs up, just about adopting a responsible approach to alcohol management in and outside of the club. It also helps makes the clubs more viable and more attractive places to be for families, reducing such alcohol-related problems as binge and under-age drinking and drink driving.”

Good Sports will be delivered to AFL clubs via part time Project Officers, 15 of which have already been employed with several more in key centres yet to be appointed.   

Benefits to clubs participating in Good Sports include:

• The creation of healthier, happier, friendlier and more family oriented sports clubs
• A reduction in alcohol related incidents involving club members, on and away from club premises (i.e. at a licensed sponsor venue)
• Assisting to decrease the risk of club liability
• Increasing the opportunity for membership and revenue growth
• Free of charge participation, including provision of Good Sports resources and accreditation merchandise for participating clubs
• Club recognition via Good Sports press releases and marketing collateral including local council presentation events 

The next step is to register your club for a meeting with a Good Sports representative by visiting the website at www.goodsports.com.au or by calling (02) 9972 3160. For more information call Phil Tangney, Regional Manager, Sydney on 0407 946 453.